Ever looked at a piece of art and thought, “Someone paid how much for that?” You’re not alone! A million dollars is a fortune for most, yet some paintings sell for many times that amount. Often, these multi-million-dollar artworks aren’t even by household names, leaving many of us scratching our heads.
Art is, of course, subjective. What one person sees as a masterpiece, another might see as… well, something else entirely. But it’s hard not to ponder how certain paintings command such astronomical prices. Are they truly worth the fortunes collectors pay? Let’s dive into ten incredibly expensive paintings that might make you question the art world, in a good way!
10. Untitled by Robert Ryman
Imagine a canvas that looks like a patch of white stucco or perhaps a toaster pastry lightly dusted with something green. That’s one way to describe some works by American minimalist Robert Ryman (1930-2019). He famously created many white squares, though sometimes with hints of other colors.
Ryman wasn’t focused on painting a recognizable scene. Instead, he wanted to understand the process of painting and how paint itself behaves. He even experimented by painting directly onto walls to explore the space between art and its surroundings. One of his untitled white squares, a testament to this exploration, fetched an astonishing $15 million. It certainly makes you think about the value of artistic experimentation!
9. Point by Brice Marden
Another minimalist, American artist Brice Marden (1938- ), also explored the power of simple forms. For a while, he was devoted to his one-canvas, one-color approach. Unlike Ryman’s equal squares, Marden’s rectangles often featured longer top and bottom sides.
His piece, Point (1969), might be divided into sections of different colors or varying shades of a single color. It’s a beautiful example of his earlier, transitional work. This seemingly simple composition made a big impression on the art market, selling at auction for over $6 million! It shows how dedication to a unique style can capture collectors’ attention.
8. Concetto Spaziale, Attese by Lucio Fontana
Picture a canvas with twelve diagonal lines, some thin, some thick, looking more like slashes than brushstrokes. This is Lucio Fontana’s Concetto Spaziale, Attese (Spatial Concept, Expectations). The Argentine-Italian artist (1899-1968) called this series “an art for the Space Age.” You could almost imagine it hanging in a futuristic home!
Fontana’s unique style came from an accident. In a fit of anger, he pierced a canvas, and from this act of destruction, a new artistic concept was born. He created three-dimensional effects by puncturing or slashing the canvas, drawing attention to the space behind and in front of it. This innovative approach paid off – one of these slashed canvases sold for a whopping $12.78 million!
7. Black Fire I (1961) by Barnett Newman
American artist Barnett Newman (1905-1970) initially explored surrealism, often using thin vertical lines called “zips” to divide colored areas in his paintings. Newman spoke of a religious inspiration, evident in titles like Adam and Eve. He famously asked if the drive to be a painter wasn’t an act of defiance, a return to a kind of Eden.
He aimed to create art that didn’t rely on traditional images of people or landscapes. In Black Fire I, the canvas is split: one side black, the other light beige. A thin black zip on the beige side makes it seem like the colors are struggling for dominance. This powerful abstract piece stunned the art world when it sold at auction for an incredible $84.2 million, far exceeding predictions.
6. Suprematist Composition (1916) by Kazimir Malevich
Soviet avant-garde artist Kasimir Malevich (1879-1935) created captivating works like Suprematist Composition. It draws you in with its vibrant colors and dynamic diagonal arrangement, where rectangular shapes appear to float in mid-air. This painting is part of a series showcasing Malevich’s fascination with geometric forms and precision.
He encouraged his followers to explore these Suprematist ideas themselves, though Malevich himself preferred to let his forms “fly” with a sense of freedom rather than strict geometric rules. His innovative vision clearly resonated with collectors, as this 1916 composition sold at a Sotheby’s auction for a massive $85.8 million!
5. Untitled by Jean-Michel Basquiat
One of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s untitled works features a striking, misshapen black skull outlined in white, set against a blue background with vague building-like shapes. It has the raw energy of street graffiti, complete with a tag-like signature. This isn’t surprising, as Basquiat (1960-1988) began as a New York City graffiti artist, using spray paint for this piece.
The exact meaning is open to interpretation, with mysterious shapes visible within the skull itself. Whether you love it or not, Basquiat’s unique style commands immense respect in the art world. This particular untitled skull painting achieved a record-breaking price, selling for over $110.5 million in 2017!
4. Flag (1954–1955) by Jasper Johns
Flag is a fitting title for American abstract expressionist Jasper Johns’ (1930- ) iconic painting of the 48-star American flag. The inspiration came from a dream Johns had the night before he started painting it, shortly after his military service. This work is often discussed in relation to art that questions reality and illusion.
Unlike some art that highlights the difference between a picture and the real thing, Johns’ Flag blurs that line, creating a powerful statement that sent shockwaves through the art world. Over half a century later, it delivered another jolt when it was sold in a private_sale for an estimated $100 million!
3. Masterpiece by Roy Lichtenstein
American pop artist Roy Lichtenstein’s Masterpiece (1962) looks like a panel straight out of a comic book. It shows a blonde woman admiring a painting alongside a dark-haired man, presumably the artist. Their features are rendered with Ben-Day dots, a classic comic printing technique. A speech bubble exclaims, “Why, Brad darling, this painting is a masterpiece! My, soon you’ll have all of New York clamoring for your work!”
Lichtenstein actually adapted this from a real comic book panel, changing the image, setting, and dialogue to cleverly comment on his own rising fame. This humorous and iconic piece lived up to its name in the market, selling for an impressive $165 million!
2. No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red) (1951) by Mark Rothko
In 1951, American abstract painter Mark Rothko (1903-1970) created No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red). As the title suggests, it features horizontal bands of these colors—though the red is more of a red-orange. But there’s more to this painting than just color blocks. It became entangled in the “Bouvier Affair,” a complex international legal battle involving a Russian tycoon and his art dealer.
The dispute involved allegations of massively inflated prices for artworks by several famous artists, including Rothko. Despite the surrounding controversy, or perhaps adding to its mystique, Rothko’s No. 6 sold for a staggering $184 million. It’s a piece that carries both artistic weight and a dramatic backstory.
1. Interchange (1955) by Willem de Kooning
Topping our list is Interchange by American abstract expressionist Willem de Kooning. Painted in 1955, it held the record for the most expensive painting ever sold until late 2015. Today, its sale price is second only to Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi.
At first glance, Interchange might seem like a chaotic jumble of colors and shapes, perhaps even dizzying. What exactly are we looking at? De Kooning’s work often shifted between abstract forms and hints of real figures. In this piece, the “fleshy pink mass at its center” is said to represent a seated woman. For the privilege of owning this complex and significant work, American hedge fund manager Kenneth G. Griffin paid an astonishing $300 million! That’s a price tag that truly makes you ponder the value of art.
These paintings, with their eye-watering prices, challenge our perceptions of value and art. Whether you find them beautiful, baffling, or a bit of both, their stories and the amounts paid for them are undeniably fascinating. They remind us that art can be a powerful force, evoking strong reactions and commanding incredible sums.
What do you think? Are these paintings worth their millions? Leave your comment below!
